English idiom

play it by ear

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

To deal with a situation as it develops rather than following a fixed plan.

Why this phrase?

From musicians playing a tune by hearing it rather than reading sheet music.

Example

“We haven't booked anything, so we'll just play it by ear.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

on the fly

while something is happening, without prior preparation

easier said than done

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

for the time being

temporarily, until circumstances change

back to square one

to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed

back to the drawing board

to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed

bite off more than you can chew

to take on more work than you can handle

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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